Chapter 48 Village (6)
The Village (6)
Time rewound.
The sound of a clock gradually faded from my ears. As a stabbing pain pierced my lungs, my eyes flew open.
Though not as severe as the moment of death, it was still a pain I could never grow accustomed to. Gasping for breath, I slowly raised my head.
'First, assess the situation.'
I needed to determine the point in time I'd returned to.
Evan came into view, his sword sheathed in aura as he cut down the Emperor's Hands one after another. Behind him, Lily stood beside the old woman, her body trembling slightly. Turning my gaze further back, I saw the golden magic circle being redrawn.
Unconsciously, I clicked my tongue.
Of all times, it had to be this moment.
The amount of time I'd rewound was shorter than expected. If only I'd returned to before the battle began, I could have prepared more thoroughly.
Countless thoughts flooded my mind, but I shook my head to clear them. There was no time left for complaints.
"Hoo..."
Taking deep breaths, I quickly scanned my surroundings. Soon, a shadow entered the corner of my vision.
A figure materializing out of thin air in an instant—similar to Abel's teleportation. Had I not been paying close attention, I might not have even noticed it. No wonder I'd nearly been caught off guard before the regression.
Whether it was just my imagination or not, their methods seemed to be growing increasingly meticulous.
Whoosh.
With a gust of wind, a black-masked figure lunged at me.
I conjured shield magic around my fist. A crimson magic circle enveloped my arm, instantly forming multiple layers of shields.
The same method I'd used against them in the library. It seemed they still hadn't learned—the figure recklessly charged straight into my attack.
Thud!
Ghk—?!
The figure let out a choked gasp as it slammed into the wall. Though its body trembled violently, it immediately tried to rise again.
But before it could, a blue sword strike sliced clean through its neck. Soon after, Evan's urgent voice rang out.
"My lady, are you alright?!"
"Yes, I'm fine."
To think such a simple counter would have sufficed. Strangely, I felt a bit deflated.
Evan stepped in front of me, once more imbuing his sword with aura. Golden magic circles began forming on the ground.
Clicking his tongue, he took a deep breath.
The intruders began appearing one after another, using a method akin to teleportation. Yet his sword didn't miss a single one, cutting them down relentlessly.
One, then another.
The battle was nothing short of a one-sided slaughter.
Their numbers had clearly dwindled compared to before. No matter how mass-produced the Emperor's Hands were, even they had their limits.
Thud.
As the last figure collapsed, Evan leaned on his sword, breathing heavily. Though he didn't speak, his exhaustion was palpable.
Of course—fighting so many alone would tire anyone out. Heaving a deep sigh, he muttered:
"I never expected them to invade even a place like this."
I agreed wholeheartedly.
I hadn't imagined they'd infiltrate such a remote village either.
Shaking the blood off his blade, he sheathed it.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Sudden applause.
The sound was so out of place that Evan instinctively scowled.
The clapping grew closer. A man stepped slowly through the doorway.
He entered the cabin with unhurried steps, still applauding calmly.
A gaunt face, deep dark circles, an eerily unsettling aura, and golden eyes—it was the young man who had guided us to the village.
'...Were his eyes always gold?'
The thought crossed my mind. When we first met, I was certain he had black hair and blue eyes. Before I could ponder further, the young man spoke first.
"Impressive. I never thought you'd repel that assault."
He took slow, deliberate steps toward us. With every footfall, a chilling dread crept over my entire body.
His previously indifferent expression had vanished without a trace. Now, he exuded an inexplicable pressure.
Even Evan tensed, gulping audibly as he drew his sword again. The man chuckled softly at the sight and opened his mouth.
"What do you plan to do with that hunk of metal?"
"Shut your mouth."
Blue aura flared to life. Though slightly diminished from before, its ferocity remained undiminished.
The blazing aura, like tongues of fire, seemed ready to cleave the man in two at any moment.
Yet his face remained expressionless as he stared at Evan.
Clang!
The sound of metal striking metal.
It was a bizarre sight. Not only had he caught the blade barehanded, but not a single drop of blood had been shed.
A golden magic circle etched into his palm effortlessly blocked the sword. Unfazed, Evan immediately pressed his attack.
CRASH!
CLANG—
The clash between sword and magic circle sent sharp metallic echoes reverberating in all directions.
With nothing more than a palm-sized magic circle, the man effortlessly blocked every one of his attacks.
"Strong. But soft."
As he spoke, he clenched his right fist.
Gritting his teeth, Evan swung his sword again. A blue arc of sword energy surged toward the man, only to be pitifully intercepted by another magic circle that materialized midair.
"Let me show you."
Whoosh.
The sound of wind whistled past his ears.
A gust brushed against his cheek—and in the same instant, the man vanished from sight.
Before Evan could react, he reappeared behind him and drove his fist forward. Evan barely managed to twist around, raising his sword in a desperate block.
But the fist shattered the blade like glass.
BOOM!
A deafening impact sent Evan hurtling into the wall. The sight left even Lily and me frozen in place.
I had never seen Evan overpowered so utterly. He wasn't on Abel's level, but he was still a formidable knight in his own right.
And yet, this man had subdued him in a single strike.
"Too weak."
"Cough—!"
Evan staggered to his feet, clutching the broken sword. His legs trembled, but he forced himself upright regardless.
The man smirked, as if amused.
"Loyalty suits you."
"Stay... away from the young lady!"
Another blue slash flew—only to be effortlessly deflected by a golden magic circle.
Still, Evan didn't stop. He kept attacking, relentless. The man clicked his tongue and stepped forward.
Huuuuum...
With a single gesture, dozens of golden magic circles materialized around him. An overwhelming surge of mana gathered at his command.
This is...
Goosebumps prickled my skin.
The sheer volume of mana was on par with Abel's. To control this much with just a flick of his wrist—
CRASH!
"Ghk—!"
Evan couldn't even scream before the blow landed. He collapsed, motionless.
Seeing him—Evan—so utterly defeated for the first time sent a creeping despair through my chest.
"Not... yet..."
With a rattling gasp, Evan stretched his arm toward the man's leg.
"Impressive willpower."
The man sounded almost admiring.
"But that's all."
A single kick sent Evan crashing back into the wall. The man turned away, as if he'd lost interest, and then his gaze settled on me.
He's strong.
Blocking Evan's attacks with a single magic circle. Commanding vast amounts of mana with a gesture.
And subduing Evan as easily as one would a child.
My arms trembled. I stepped in front of Lily, glaring at him.
Those golden eyes—familiar. That overwhelming power—comparable to Abel's.
Facing him like this, there was no mistaking who he was.
"The Emperor..."
"Quick to notice, aren't you?"
The Emperor chuckled darkly and began advancing toward me.
None of the benevolent grandfatherly air he'd displayed at the Hunting Festival remained. Here stood nothing but a ruthless predator.
If I let my guard down for even a second, my head might roll.
The thought left my lips bone-dry.
"First, I'll deal with that old woman."
"What?"
The Emperor raised his hand—and something ignited in the old woman's throat, glowing crimson.
Her face paled before she crumpled to the ground, cold sweat pouring down her face. Then, she vomited blood.
"Cough—! Gah—!"
Gasping for air, she collapsed.
I turned my head, meeting the Emperor's indifferent expression.
"Why did you kill the woman who raised you?"
"Hmm? Are you asking me?"
When I nodded, he let out a dry laugh.
"Bold. Well, I suppose there's no harm in answering."
He stroked his chin briefly before continuing.
"It's simple. She got in the way of my plans."
Killed... because she was an inconvenience?
Suddenly, the princess's words echoed in my mind.
"Abel intends to bring down the Imperial House."
"It's true. I'm on his side as well."
When I first heard of Abel's rebellion from her, my immediate thought had been—why?
Why would a member of the Imperial Family like Princess Aria aid him?
But now, standing before the Emperor himself, I understood.
He had killed the woman who raised him without hesitation—just because she was in his way.
Did there need to be any greater reason?
"I see."
Amid the fear, fury forced its way in. My chest burned with it. I drew in a sharp breath.
The Emperor watched me calmly, unmoving. Did he think I was paralyzed with terror?
If so, he was sorely mistaken.
Thud.
"...Huh?"
I drove the hidden Artifact Blade into his abdomen.
The same blade the Emperor's hand had wielded in the library—the one that ignored magic, the one the princess had slipped to me.
I lifted my head and met the Emperor's stunned gaze.
"That's the price for underestimating me, Your Majesty."